Legislation to Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act to be Introduced

Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) 
           

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Next Tuesday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) will introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a law which discriminates against lawfully married same-sex couples.  The legislators will be joined by married same-sex couples harmed by DOMA and many of the country’s premier LGBT and civil rights advocates in a press conference to announce the new bill, at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at the House Triangle, near the southern steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

 

Through DOMA, which was signed into law 13 years ago, on September 21, 1996, the federal government singles out legally married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them more than 1,100 federal protections and responsibilities – including Social Security and immigration benefits – that otherwise apply to married couples.  This policy is discriminatory and harmful to families, preventing the government from honoring its legal commitments and the needs of families, even though these couples have assumed the obligations of civil marriage under state law and contribute as citizens and taxpayers.

 

President Obama has said recently: “I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.  It’s discriminatory, it interferes with States’ rights, and it’s time we overturned it.”  Married gay and lesbian couples pay taxes, serve their communities, and raise children like other couples.  Their contributions and needs are no different from those of their neighbors.  The new legislation will ensure that couples who assume the serious legal duties of marriage are treated fairly under federal law.  The specifics of this legislation will be announced on Tuesday.

 

What:        Press Conference to announce new legislation to repeal DOMA

 

When:       11:00am on Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Where:      House Triangle, near the southern steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

 

      Who:       

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO)

Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign

Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal

Jen and Dawn BarbouRoske, an Iowa couple harmed by DOMA

Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Evan Wolfson, Executive Director, Freedom to Marry

Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda

Christopher Anders, Senior Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union

Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Supportive Clergy

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